Four schoolboys excluded for wearing shorts on the hottest day of the year found a genius way around the rules.

After temperatures reached a scorching 33 degrees on Tuesday, four Year 9 friends decided to change into their PE shorts.

But due to a change of policy at Longhill High School in Brighton, the pupils were sent into isolation and told to go home and change.

Rather than come back in their usual trousers, the boys found another way to stay cool in the heat.

Michael Parker, Kodi Ailing, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer, all 14, wore skirts for the remainder of the week despite being ordered by teachers to remove them.

Michael's mum Angela Parker, said: 'On Tuesday, the hottest day of the year so far, several of the boys went in to school in regulation PS shorts with a school logo on.

'They were all told to go home and put trousers on and told they are not allowed to wear shorts, even though girls are allowed to wear short skirts with bare legs and stay cool.

'It's discriminatory against boys why should they be punished? The school doesn't let them have a drink of water during class and the rooms aren't air conditioned. It's quite hypocritical as well as all the male teachers were wearing shorts and t-shirts.'

Head Kate Williams confirmed the boys would be allowed to wear skirts because they were part of the prescribed uniform.

She said: 'Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform.'